Sandy: A Storm Diary, Updated Mid-Storm

Perhaps because the waterway is at low tide, the barriers to the Hudson River Park have been removed. Here storm watchers gather on the Christopher Street pier.

Despite promises to the contrary in many cases, 95 percent of the restaurants in the West Village are now closed. Those that remain open, like the Windsor, an upscale sports bar and hamburger joint at West 4th and West 10th, are enjoying a premises thronged with patrons. This despite escalating wind gusts, but still sparse rain.

The Rite Aid on Hudson Street is still open but will be closing shortly. The candles are all sold out anyway, except for one purple one.

As of 4 p.m., the Windsor remained open and wildly popular, its windows resolutely taped (to keep the patrons safe from flying glass).

Gristedes at Sheridan Square is one of the only major groceries in the West Village to remain open, but the pickin's in the bread aisle are few.

Meanwhile, on Perry Street, Port-A-Potty down!

West Side Highway bar the Rusty Knot -- smack dab in the middle of Zone A, and only a few feet above sea level -- prepares for the surge with taped windows and sandbagged doors.

A carnival atmosphere prevailed in the West Village, as residents went out for a stroll in the balmy weather, marred only by brief wind gusts of perhaps 20 miles per hour, and light drizzle. Here's the scene as of 11:30 a.m.

Riverside portions of the Hudson River Park have been barricaded by Hudson River Conservancy personnel, and it's easy to see why: Rough waves have already overtopped the sea wall at points and were roiling over the sidewalks.

The swell has reached the level of the park footpath.

Spectators lined up along the Hudson River to observe the phenomenon.

In many locations, bodega shelves are pretty much picked clean.

An estimated 80 percent of cafés and restaurants that would normally be open at this time are closed, but those that remain open, such as this one on Hudson Street, are enjoying a brisk business with lines snaking out the door. Nevertheless, bagels seem to be sold out everywhere.